Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Review: All Hallows Blood by Raven Corinn Carluk

All Hallows Blood by Raven Corinn Carluk

Publisher: Crescent Moon Press
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Heat Rating: 2

Blurb

Mourning her mother on Halloween, Keila O'Broin, a psychic warrior and last of her line, isn't prepared for dead teenagers to ask her to avenge them. Compelled by her family creed, Keila combats the vampiric serial killer, despite her atrophied powers.

But defeating one killer is only the start of her adventure. Into her life walks Varick Eitenhauer, centuries old undead master of Portland. The vampire tells her she will now help him defeat his rivals in a battle to control the city, and he will accept no refusals.

Surrounded by her desire and danger, the only way to succeed is to rise from her past like a phoenix from its ashes.

Yadkny’s Review

Keila is a psionicist, which is a psychic warrior with extraordinary powers inherited from her parents. She was raised with the motto to help those in need and although both her parents are now gone, Keila plans on keeping that promise. So when a group of teenage ghosts approach her in a park to avenge them, what’s a girl to do but go with them to the serial killer’s home and take care of business? Little does she know that the master of the city also wants the killer she just killed and because of her family’s creed, she is bound to help him find the vampire responsible for all the rebellion in his city.

Varick doesn’t understand his desire for Keila, so he fights it. He keeps her close so she can help him take back the city, but in doing so, he finds himself falling for her all the more. Varick and Keila share something in common and combined they could be unstoppable, but so is there desire for each other.

Please allow me a moment to beg the author of this fantastic story to tell me if there is a planned sequel or series. After doing some research online, I am excited to say that at least there is a short story of Keila and Varick’s first date, but I’m afraid I’m going to need a little more Varick than that. I won’t give anything away, but although this story has the prerequisite happily ever after, it does not resolve some of my personal frustration with Varick. Therefore, I need more time with him in order to obtain answers to some very important questions.

I absolutely loved how kick-butt Keila is. You knock the girl out and she just comes right back better than before. Keila’s story is heartfelt and you can’t help but empathize with her. What’s more is she isn’t your typically built heroine and since this story is told in first person, you feel exactly what Keila feels and can easily identify with her. The sexual tension and frustration between her and Varick was almost too much, but the author does a wonderful job of finally satisfying that itch. How can you not love a German vampire who knows how to braid hair and cooks?

Recommended reading for those that love an action filled adrenaline rush of both the bloodshed and sex kind that will leave you speechless, but demanding more.